Key Terms: Tropical Rainforests (AQA GCSE Geography): Revision Note

Tropical rainforest ecosystem - key terms glossary

Abiotic – The non-living parts of an ecosystem such as sunlight, water, temperature, and soil.

Biotic – The living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria.

Buttress roots – Large, wide roots above ground that help support tall rainforest trees in shallow soil.

Canopy – The upper layer of the rainforest formed by closely packed tree tops, usually between 30–45 metres high.

Drip tips – Leaf adaptations that allow rainwater to run off quickly, preventing the growth of mould.

Emergents – The tallest trees in the rainforest, rising above the canopy layer to 50–55 metres.

Epiphytes – Plants that grow on the trunks and branches of trees to access sunlight, absorbing nutrients from air and rain.

Interdependence – The way in which plants, animals, climate, and soils in a rainforest rely on each other to survive.

Lianas – Woody vines that climb trees to reach sunlight in the canopy layer.

Nutrient cycle – The continuous transfer of nutrients through biomass, litter, and soil in rainforest ecosystems, driven by rapid decomposition.

Photosynthesis – The process by which plants make their own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.

Shrub layer – The bottom layer of the rainforest, made up of small plants and young trees, typically below 3–4 metres in height.

Species biodiversity – The wide variety of plant and animal life found in tropical rainforests, often the richest of any ecosystem on Earth.

Under canopy – The rainforest layer below the canopy, where young trees and shrubs grow with limited light.

Waxy leaves – An adaptation of rainforest plants that repels water to prevent mould and damage.

Water cycle – The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff, heavily influenced by rainforest vegetation.

Stick insects – Creatures that resemble twigs or leaves, helping them camouflage in the rainforest to avoid predators.

Deforestation - key terms glossary

Clear felling – The complete removal of trees in an area, often causing significant environmental damage.

Deforestation – The cutting down and removal of forest cover, often for farming, mining, or settlement.

Illegal logging – The unauthorised cutting down of trees, often violating environmental laws and protection policies.

Logging – The cutting down of trees for timber, which can lead to large-scale deforestation if unsustainable.

Monoculture – The practice of growing a single type of crop, which reduces biodiversity and soil quality.

Palm oil – A widely used product made from the oil palm tree, often linked to deforestation when forests are cleared to grow plantations.

Tropical hardwoods – Dense, valuable woods such as teak and mahogany found in rainforests and often exported for furniture and construction.

Cause and impacts of deforestation - key terms glossary

Carbon sink – An area, such as a rainforest, that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases, helping to reduce the greenhouse effect.

Hydroelectric power (HEP) – Energy produced from flowing water, often requiring the flooding of rainforest areas to build dams.

Minerals – Natural resources such as tin, iron ore, and gold extracted from rainforest areas, often causing deforestation.

Slash and burn – A method of clearing forest by cutting and burning vegetation, often used in subsistence farming.

Soil erosion – The wearing away of soil due to wind and rain, often worsened when tree roots no longer bind the soil after deforestation

Management of tropical rainforests - key terms glossary

Afforestation – Planting new trees to replace those that have been cut down, helping restore forest cover.

Agroforestry – A land use system that combines growing crops and trees together, improving biodiversity, soil fertility, and reducing deforestation.

Debt for nature swap – An agreement in which a country's debt is reduced in return for commitments to preserve the environment.

Ecotourism – Tourism focused on natural environments that aims to have minimal environmental impact and benefit local communities.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – An organisation that certifies wood from sustainably managed forests.

International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) – An international agreement to promote sustainable forest management and limit trade in tropical timber.

Reforestation – Replanting trees in areas where forest has been lost, helping to restore ecosystems and reduce erosion.

Selective logging – The careful cutting down of selected trees to minimise damage to surrounding forest.

Sustainable management – Using rainforest resources in a way that meets current needs without damaging the ecosystem for future generations.

UN Forum on Forests – A global organisation that supports sustainable forest development and conservation efforts.

UN Sustainable Development Goals - Adopted by the United Nations in 2015 the goals are an outline of action that needs to be taken to end poverty and protect the Earth.